Columnist arrested at CDO airport

MANILA, Philippines — An opinion writer based in Davao City was arrested at the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro yesterday morning.

Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested Fidelina Margarita Valle, 60, at around 10:30 a.m., according to an initial police report.

Valle’s arrest was reportedly based on two warrants. The first was for multiple murder with quadruple frustrated murder and damage to property issued by Judge Bernadette Paredes-Encinareal of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) 10th Judicial Region Branch 36.

The second warrant, issued by Judge Aniceto Galon Jr. of the RTC 9th Judicial Region Branch 20, was for arson.

No bail was recommended for Valle’s temporary liberty for the first case, while P24,000 was recommended for the second case.

The report did not mention the specific incidents in which Valle is being implicated of.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said Valle is a columnist of SunStar and Davao Today.

The NUJP said she was in Cagayan de Oro for a writing workshop.

Valle’s son Rius said she was about to board a plane to Davao when she was arrested.

“We have now lost all communications with her and we don’t know her whereabouts,” Rius posted on his Facebook account. – Ben Serrano